Cabinet

ABSTRACT

Cabinets ( 10 ) are formed by a frame ( 60 ) enclosing shelves. The frame ( 60 ) has a plurality of openings in the front face ( 70, 71 ) of the cabinetry to allow access to the contents of the cabinets ( 10 ). The openings are covered by doors ( 21, 22, 31, 32, 41, 42, 51, 52 ) connected to the frame by hinges. Art work covers the doors ( 21, 22, 31, 32, 41, 42, 51, 52 ) and frames ( 60 ) of the cabinets ( 10 ) and is arranged so that the art work is not distorted or interrupted by the division of the cabinetry front between the doors ( 21, 22, 31, 32, 41, 42, 51, 52 ) and frame ( 60 ). The artwork extends across the door ( 21, 22, 31, 32, 41, 42, 51, 52 ) onto the frame ( 60 ) in such a manner as to give the impression that it is a single piece of art. When viewed from a distance, the viewer sees the complete work of art even though the doors ( 21, 22, 31, 32, 41, 42, 51, 52 ) are operable.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/022,583 filed Dec. 24, 2004, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to cabinetry and, more particularly, to cabinetry having an uninterrupted work of art thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cabinetry, particularly those used in kitchens, is often the centerpiece of a house. The cabinets, counter tops and flooring for a kitchen represent the largest expenditure for any room in the house. These features are permanently attached and are chosen based as much on their esthetic appeal as their functional qualities.

Cabinets are designed to last for many years. Given their expense, homeowners wish to choose cabinets that add to the visual attractiveness of a room, particularly a kitchen, for a long time. Cabinets are usually made from natural or simulated wood and are available in many different colors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide cabinets that are functional and esthetically appealing.

It is another object of the invention to provide cabinets having an appearance of an uninterrupted work of art.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide cabinets having a work of art that extends across the cabinet doors and frame.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide cabinets that are a work of art without reducing their functionality.

These and other objects of the invention become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing the disclosure of the invention.

A cabinet has a frame defining an enclosure. Openings are formed in the frame for accessing the contents of the enclosure. Doors are connected to the frame and cover the openings. A design on the doors and frame maintains continuity across the doors and frame to give the appearance of a single picture.

The cabinets are formed by a frame enclosing shelves. The frame has a plurality of openings in the front face of the cabinetry to allow access to the contents of the cabinet. The openings are covered by doors connected to the frame by hinges. Art work covers the doors and frames of the cabinet and is arranged so that the art work is not distorted or interrupted by the division of the cabinetry front between doors and frame. The artwork extends across the doors onto a frame in such a manner as to give the impression that it is a single piece of art. When viewed from a distance, the viewer sees the complete work of art even though the doors are operable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a cabinet assembly constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, the cabinet assembly having a work of art extending across its doors and cabinet frame;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a cabinet assembly constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2B is a view similar to FIG. 2A, except that some cabinet doors are shown in their partially open positions;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cabinet constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, except that cabinet doors are shown in their partially open positions;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, except that drawers are shown in their partially open positions;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cabinet constructed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, except that cabinet doors are shown in their partially open positions;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6, except that drawers are shown in their partially open positions;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cabinet constructed in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, except that cabinet doors are shown in their partially open positions;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Cabinetry constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The invention applies to a single cabinet or a plurality of joined cabinets 10 which make up a single unit. The cabinets 10 may be, for example, floor cabinets supporting a counter top and/or wall cabinets (as shown) that are mounted on a wall above the counter tops. The cabinets 10 of the invention may be made out of any material normally used. This includes, but is not limited to, natural and synthetic wood, composite wood, plastic, and the like. The cabinets 10 have a front frame 60 with a plurality of vertically extending frame segments 61-67. In the embodiment of the cabinetry shown in FIG. 1, the cabinets 10 are provided with a plurality of pairs of doors 21-22, 31-32, 41-42, 51-52, as well as pantry doors 53 and the like. The cabinets 10 may also have drawers (not shown). Although the cabinets 10 are conventionally provided with doors provided in pairs, the invention may be applied to any type of cabinet. In FIG. 1, the frame 60 and the cabinet doors 21-22; 31-32; 41-42; 51-52 combine to create the total surface area of the cabinet's front face 70, 71.

The front face 70, 71 of the cabinets 10 is provided with continuous art work. The art work may be original art work or reproduction of existing art work or any continuous other designs. It may be of any type such as abstract or representational. In FIG. 1, the design is, shown applied to the cabinets' front face 70, 71 for clarity purposes. In use, the design, as shown, extends across the exposed vertical frame members 61-67 for extent of the cabinetry including exposed frames and may include such other features as drawers and the like. The design is applied to the front face 70, 71 of the cabinetry 10 as, for example, by a painting, base relief, molded, sculpted, or any other means and is uninterrupted across the viewable portion of the front face 70, 71 of the cabinetry 10 despite the fact that the front face 70, 71 is formed, for example, as shown, by a plurality of doors 21, 22, 31, 32, 41, 42, 51, 52 and the frame 60. It is an essential aspect of this invention that the design not only cover, be disposed across a door but that it extends across a door and part of the visible frame between the doors so as to present a continuous design. The design may also continue from the front to the exposed sides (not shown) of the cabinets 10. Thus, this uninterrupted design, as illustrated in the example of FIG. 1 as a continuous balloon design, extends across the pairs of doors 21-22, 31-32, 41-42, 51-52. The design extends across the exposed frames 60-67. In this way, the design is continuous across the exposed frame members and doors and, if visible, cabinet drawers (not shown). It may also extend across to other exposed surfaces, even though those surfaces present, for example, cabinet doors and frame members so that the design draws together the front face of the cabinet.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a “frameless” cabinet 80 constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. In a “frameless” cabinet 80, hinges are concealed and doors cover the entire frame. The doors juxtapose one another including adjacent pairs of doors so that no frame is visible. Even though such doors hide the frame, they are clearly visible and defined by their marginal edges.

In FIG. 2, the door construction of the “frameless” cabinet 80 provides pairs of doors 121-122, 123-124, 125-126, hiding the frame (partially shown in phantom 128). Thus, the frame 128 is not visible when the doors are closed. Adjacent pairs of doors 121-122, 123-124, 125-126 abut or juxtapose one another with minimal gaps to permit the doors to be hingedly opened and closed. Thus, to the observer, with the doors closed, what is clearly visible in the front surface is the adjacent doors.

One purpose of this invention is to minimize or make virtually invisible any interruption in the cabinet visible surface, thereby reducing or making almost invisible the existence of doors, drawers, or the like. The cabinets 80 becomes, instead, a hanging design first and a cabinet second. The design may be a work of art or abstract design or the like and may be formed on or in or adhered to a sheet of material of the type described. As previously described, the design may be formed on or attached to the visible front surface by, for example, a base relief carved into the doors (and, where visible, the frame), molded onto or in the surface or adhered to the surface. A very small space is between any pair of doors so that the doors may pivot open. The same is true for any other exposed surface, such as drawers. Additionally, the artwork may extend from the front continuously to an exposed frame or exposed sides 130 (one side is shown) of the cabinet box 80.

Another purpose of this invention is to dispose the design so that it is continuous and extends across various doors and, if visible, the cabinet frame, drawers, and the like and may be extended to any exposed side of the cabinets box so as to make the combined appearance of the edges of closed doors and draws be diminished or practically invisible when viewed as an overall presentation of the design. Thus, the viewer sees this single design despite the fact that the viewed front surface is made of many different components such as the doors and draws which remain operable.

FIGS. 3-5 depict a third embodiment of the present invention. Elements illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, which correspond, either identically or substantially, to the elements described above with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 1, have been designated by corresponding reference numerals increased by two hundred. Unless otherwise stated, the embodiment of FIGS. 6-8 is constructed and assembled in the same basic manner as the embodiment of FIG. 1.

With reference to FIGS. 3-5, there is shown a china cabinet 210 defining a storage enclosure 211 and including a pair of outer or exposed sides 230, 231. The cabinet 210 is also provided with a plurality of doors 221, 222, each of which has a front surface 227. Each of the doors 221, 222 is mounted to the cabinet 210 such that it is movable between a closed position (see FIG. 3) and a closed position (see FIG. 4) so as to provide access to the enclosure 211. Moreover, the cabinet 210 includes a plurality of drawers 212, each of which is movable between a closed position (see FIGS. 3 and 4) and an open position (see FIG. 5) and each of which is provided with a front surface 213.

Still referring to FIGS. 3-5, the cabinet 210 includes a base 214 located below the drawers 212 and having a front surface 215. The front surface 215 of the base 214 cooperates with the front surfaces 227 of the doors 221, 222 and the front surfaces 213 of the drawers 212 to define at least a portion of a front face 270 of the cabinet 210.

The cabinet 210 includes a graphical or pictorial design 280 extending across and between the front face 270 and at least one of the sides 230, 231. More particularly, the design 280 includes a block 281, which projects laterally outwardly from the side 230 of the cabinet 210, and plates 282, 283, which are attached to the front surface 213 of the lowermost one of the drawers 212 and to the base 214 and the block 281, respectively. The block 281 and the plates 282, 283 cooperate to form an illustration 284 which illustrates an article, object, theme or the like (e.g., a flowerpot). As a result, the base 214 defines at least a portion of the illustration 284.

The design 280 also includes an illustration 285 and an illustration 286 which illustrate articles, objects, themes or the like relating to the one illustrated by the illustration 284. For instance, the illustration 285 can include a painting illustrating a plurality of stems projecting from the flowerpot of the illustration 284 and leaves at ends thereof. Similarly, the illustration 286 can include a painting illustrating a stem projecting from the block 281 and a leaf at an end thereof. The illustration 285 is provided in a conventional manner (e.g., painting, base relief, molding, sculpting or any other suitable means) on the front surfaces 227 of the doors 221, 222 and at least one of the front surfaces 213 of the drawers 212 such that it appears to extend substantially continuously across the front surfaces 227, 213. Likewise, the illustration 286 is provided on the side 230 of the cabinet 210 in a conventional manner. At least a portion of the illustration 286 corresponds to at least a portion of the illustration 285 (see portions of the illustrations cooperating to illustrate a leaf extending across an edge between the front face 270 and the side 230) so as to make the design 280 appear to extend substantially continuously from the front face 270 to the side 230.

FIGS. 6-8 depict a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Elements illustrated in FIGS. 6-8, which correspond, either identically or substantially, to the elements described above with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 3-5, have been designated by corresponding reference numerals increased by one hundred. Unless otherwise stated, the embodiment of FIGS. 6-8 is constructed and assembled in the same basic manner as the embodiment of FIGS. 3-5.

With reference to FIGS. 6-8, there is shown a china cabinet 310 having a base 314. The entire base 314 defines an illustration 384 which illustrates an article, object, theme or the like (e.g., a flowerpot). The cabinet 310 includes an illustration 385 which extends from the base 314 and across a front face 370 of the cabinet 310 (e.g., across front surfaces 313 of drawers 312 and front surfaces 327 of doors 321, 322). An illustration 386 is also provided on a side 330 of the cabinet 310. The illustrations 385, 386 illustrate objects, articles, themes or the like which relate and/or correspond to the one illustrated by the illustration 384.

FIGS. 9 and 10 depict a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Elements illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, which correspond, either identically or substantially, to the elements described above with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 3-5, have been designated by corresponding reference numerals increased by two hundred. Unless otherwise stated, the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 is constructed and assembled in the same basic manner as the embodiment of FIGS. 3-5.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is shown a china cabinet 410 having a base 414. The base 414 includes a portion 416 defining an illustration 484 which illustrates an article, object, theme or the like (e.g., a flowerpot). The cabinet 410 includes an illustration 485 which extends from the base 414 and across a front face 470 of the cabinet 410. An illustration 486 is also provided on a side 430 of the cabinet 410. The illustrations 485, 486 illustrate objects, articles, themes or the like (e.g., plants including stems, flowers and leaves) which relate and/or correspond to the one illustrated by the illustration 484.

It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such variations and modifications above are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A cabinet comprising a frame defining an enclosure, openings in the front of said frame for providing access to said enclosure, means for accessing the interior of the cabinet attached to said frame operable to cover said openings and comprising at least two pairs of adjacent closures which, when closed, present visually perceived edge lines of said closures, and a continuous design upon and extending across said pairs of adjacent closures such that said design has the effect of reducing the effect of the perceived edge lines.
 2. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein said two pairs of closures comprise doors.
 3. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein said pairs of closures comprise drawers.
 4. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein said frame is visually perceived between and separating said adjacent pairs of closures, said design being disposed across said visual frame and said adjacent closures.
 5. The cabinet of claim 4, wherein said two pairs of closures comprise doors.
 6. The cabinet of claim 4, wherein said pairs of closures comprise drawers.
 7. The cabinet of claim 1, further comprising at least one visibly exposed side at an angle to said front of the cabinet, said continuous design extending across said front and onto said side.
 8. The cabinet of claim 4, further comprising at least one visibly exposed side at an angle to said front of the cabinet, said continuous design extending across said front and onto said side.
 9. A cabinet comprising a frame defining an enclosure, openings in said frame for accessing the interior of said enclosure, means for enclosing said openings attachable to said frame and which are operable to cover said openings, and a continuous design on said enclosing means, said design appearing as a single picture when said enclosing means covers said openings.
 10. The cabinet of claim 9, wherein said frame is at least partially visible with said enclosing means covering said openings, said design appearing upon said enclosing means and said frame.
 11. The cabinet of claim 10, wherein said enclosing means comprises at least two pairs of adjacent doors, said design appearing upon said doors and said frame exposed with said doors covering access to said interior.
 12. The cabinet of claim 10, wherein said design is a base relief.
 13. The cabinet of claim 10, wherein said design is molded into said exposed front surface.
 14. The cabinet of claim 10, wherein said design is attached to said exposed front surface.
 15. A method of making a cabinet, comprising the steps of providing a cabinet frame, providing covering means to enclose the cabinet to thereby provide at least a visible front surface, and forming a continuous design on the exposed front surface.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of providing covering means includes the step of providing at least two pairs of cabinet doors.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of providing covering means includes the step of providing at least two cabinet drawers.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the design covers the cabinet doors and the visible frame with the doors closed.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of forming a continuous design includes the step of carving the design into all exposed surfaces.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the continuous design extends from the front surface and throughout an exposed side surface.
 21. A cabinet comprising a body having a front face, said body including a base, which has a first illustration illustrating one of a first object, article and theme, and a cabinet portion, which is positioned above said base and which has a second illustration illustrating one of a second object, article and theme, said one of said first object, article and theme relating to said one of said second object, article and theme such that said first illustration cooperates with said second illustration in defining a continuous design which extends at least partially across said front face.
 22. The cabinet of claim 21, wherein said cabinet portion includes an enclosure therein and at least one door movable between closed and open positions so as to close off said enclosure, said at least one door including a front surface at least partially defining said front face, said second illustration extending at least partially across said front surface of said at least one door.
 23. The cabinet of claim 22, wherein said at least one door includes a plurality of doors, each of which includes a front surface, said second illustration extending at least partially across said front surface of each of said plurality of doors.
 24. The cabinet of claim 22, wherein said cabinet portion includes at least one drawer having a front surface which cooperates with said front surface of said at least one door to at least partially define said front face, said second illustration extending at least partially across said front surface of said at least one drawer.
 25. The cabinet of claim 24, wherein said at least one drawer includes a plurality of drawers, each of which includes a front surface, said second illustration extending at least partially across said front surface of each of said plurality of drawers.
 26. The cabinet of claim 21, wherein said body includes at least one exposed side, which is oriented at an angle relative to said front face, and a third illustration, which illustrates one of a third object, article and theme, said one of said third object, article and theme relating to said one of said first object, article and theme, said third illustration extending at least partially across said side.
 27. The cabinet of claim 26, wherein each of said second and third illustrations extends from said first illustration.
 28. The cabinet of claim 27, wherein said first illustration includes a block projecting laterally outwardly from at least one of said base and said side.
 29. The cabinet of claim 28, wherein said first illustration illustrates a flowerpot; and wherein each of said second and third illustrations illustrates at least one plant. 